Anita Pallenberg: Stones Goddess

Anita Pallenberg: Stones Goddess

When I created my original webpage (http://harlowgold.tripod.com/apallenberg.html) in tribute to the beautiful, mysterious, dangerous, powerful personality/actress Anita Pallenberg there was a reason – I could not find a website dedicated to her. That was in January 2000. Since that time several web sites in Anita’s honor have popped up on the web; they are very well done sites which I link to in my links section below. I’m so pleased to see how Anita’s presence on the web has grown in just the last few years. As a rock ‘n roll icon Anita is still gaining fans of all ages. I’ve created an Anita Tumblr Blog.  I see so many amazing photos of Anita pop up on Tumblr all the time, when I see them, I’ll reblog them on my humble little Tumblr page. My original page which began on AOL in January 2000 was later moved to Tripod and now lives here on Wordpress.

Anita Pallenberg has been one of my rock ‘n roll icons since I became a Rolling Stones fan. I discovered the Rolling Stones and their myth when I rented the movie Performance in the summer of 1993. I was utterly blown away by the imagery and psychology of that utterly hip and profoundly revolutionary movie. It led me to a fascination with the music and the lifestyles of the Rolling Stones. Anita Pallenberg was my ideal image of rock ‘n roll when I saw her as Pherber in “Performance” – messy blond hair, witchy and bohemian, incredible charisma, daring to break all of society’s codes.

When I read up on the Stones I was interested to read that she was considered a sixth member of the Stones because of her influence on both Brian Jones and Keith Richards and her relationship with the band. Anita was as much a part of the legend of the Stones as the band members themselves. Since Keith Richards is my favorite Stone I was even more intrigued by Anita since she was Keith’s girlfriend for many years and they had two children together . I soon found out through my research that I had seen Anita long before I became a Stones fanatic. She played the Black Queen in “Barbarella” which I had first seen when I was in my teens watching TV one afternoon. The scene that I remembered most from the movie was when Jane Fonda’s character Barbarella first encounters the Black Queen and is baffled by the Black Queen’s advances as she calls her “my pretty pretty.” Definitely an memorable entrance!

Through a wonderful Anita admirer in Italy (thank you wherever you are now!) I acquired copies of Anita’s rare films “Dillinger is Dead” (which has since been released by Criterion on DVD) and “A Degree of Murder” (for which Brian Jones composed the soundtrack) and more recently,“Michael Kohlhass”.


Duran Duran, whose name was taken from the mad scientist character in “Barbarella”, used the movie clip of Anita as the Black Queen in their video for their 1985 hit “Wild Boys”. And in their 1998 dance hit “Electric Barbarella” Duran Duran has a line in the song where Simon le Bon sings “pretty pretty Barbarella” in tribute to Anita’s line from the movie “Barbarella”.

Below are my reviews of Anita’s films and some weblinks related to Anita Pallenberg. I would love to hear from other fans!!! And I would love to trade for any of the rare video that is out there on this phenomenal woman!!


My Reviews of Anita Pallenberg’s Films

A Degree of Murder

This movie is timeless. When I first saw it several years ago I was struck at how modern the filmwork and the acting in it seemed. The atmosphere reminded me of Crime and Punishment meets Trainspotting. The leading man is a handsome German actor whose haircut doesn’t scream out “1967!!!!”. Anita is a femme fatale in this movie almost by accident, and her reactions to the murder and coverup that follow is almost nonchalant, as if she really can’t help but lead men into danger. She looks utterly iconic with her blond bob, 60’s sweaters and boots. Anita seems very adult and confident for her 19 years, I can’t imagine one of today’s “actresses” of that same age coming across with the same air of maturity and awareness. I didn’t really notice the Brian Jones which means that it’s good – it goes with the movie instead of overwhelming it.
Degree of Murder Gallery

Barbarella [DVD](1968) DVD

One of my favorite films from the 1960’s. It’s so whimsical, gorgeous to look at, sexy, fun, funny, outrageous, campy, crazy and what a cast! Jane Fonda, Anita, David Hemmings, Milo O’Shea! This movie lives on as eternal sensory overload – no wonder one of the best bands of the 1980s, Duran Duran, was inspired by it so much so that they took their name from Milo O’Shea’s evil scientist. Barbarella fans should definitely check out the Duran Duran video ARENA which is a concert video that incorporates scenes and dialogue from Barbarella and an appearance by Milo O’Shea as the still cantankerous Dr. Duran. Anita is fantasticness in this movie with her black wig, incredible costumes and her wicked role as the lustful Black Queen.


Barbarella Gallery
and Stills of Anita from Barbarella

Michael Kohlhas der Rebell (1969)

Small role for Anita but she’s at her most strikingly beautiful in the late 1960’s and the exotic Moroccan scenery adds to the appeal of this film.

Candy(1968)

This VERY 60’s exploitation flick is available on  DVD. After many years of searching for this film I was glad to finally see it. It’s really bad (if you think Barbarella is a campy delight Candy is all that times ten). Ewa Aulin is just as precious and lovely to look at as I thought she would be – having seen pictures of her for years. Anita has a minor role that’s so hard to explain because the plot of this film is so utterly bizarre that I won’t even begin to try. Suffice it to say though Anita is at her usual wicked best and wears a sexy nurse’s outfit. She has on a long blond wig and her sequence in the film includes chasing Candy around a psychadelic hospital with a needle in her hand. The first few lines she has sounds like they are dubbed by someone else but after her first scene the voice sounds like it is Anita’s. She looks stunning, has on more makeup than I’ve seen her wear in her other movies, and adds that certain Anita something to this way far-out flick. Definitely worth buying to see if you are an Anita fan.

Candy (1968) DVD.

[Pherber and Chas in Performance]

Performance(1970)

The film that turned me into a Stones fan. There’s really no way to explain this movie if you haven’t seen it. You just have to watch it for yourself. It’s a part of Rolling Stones history. It’s a classic. There’s a documentary about director Donald Cammell called “The Ultimate Performance” that is very interesting and adds a lot to the understanding of the film. Sometimes co-director Nicolas Roeg gets full credit for “Performance” when in fact it was Donald Cammell’s vision. “The Ultimate Performance” has some interviews with Mick Jagger and James Fox (still a very handsome man, gracious, funny and full of good stories about how the experience of filming “Performance” changed his life.)
Performance Gallery

[Anita with James Fox and Jagger in Performance]

Dillinger is Dead

Strange movie. Kind of a stupid movie actually. It’s Italian, bizarre, nonsensical, and rather dull. Anita has hardly anything to do. She lounges around in bed for a few scenes and then we see a flashback to her on a merry-go-round which is cute and that’s about it! Updated 2016: I do finally have the Criterion DVD and will give this film another watch and see if I get it this time around.


 

Anita Pallenberg Web Links

Time Is On Our Side, The Rolling Stones Forever Anita Pallenberg Site on MultiplyTHE premiere Anita page on the web, it’s AMAZING!!! Movies Unlimited
Buy Barbarella or Performance here
Terry Southern Quotes about Anita Anita Interview 2008 with the Guardian Female Celebrity Smoking List” Top Ten London Movies The Servant’s Quarters: James Fox A review of Performance

Let me know what you think about my page. Send mail by clicking here.

Thank you for visiting my homepage!!
This page was created January 2000 and was last updated on April 17, 2016. Please visit my other webpages.

Leave a comment

Tribute to the muse of the Rolling Stones and 1960's style icon

Hometowns to Hollywood

Exploring the hometowns and legacies of Hollywood's Golden Age stars.

Heavy Topspin

The TennisAbstract blog

STOP THESE THINGS

The truth about the great wind power fraud - we're not here to debate the wind industry, we're here to destroy it.

The Russian Reader

News and views of the other Russia(n)s

uniqueplacestosee.com

Skip the tourist traps, travel like a local.

D.R.A.S.T.I.C. Research

D.R.A.S.T.I.C. Research

PETER WYNGARDE: The Official Website

PART OF THE OFFICIAL PETER WYNGARDE APPRECIATION SOCIETY

Moniqueclassique's Blog

This website is a tribute that I dedicate, with great love, to the majestic world of classic movies.

John van Dreelen

The John van Dreelen Fan Website

Vivien Leigh - the greatest actress in the world

A fan tribute to the Queen of the Seventh Art

The Lana Turner Blog

A tribute to a true Hollywood legend

My Favorite Westerns

A Celebration of Western Movies... Pardner!

Fire Breathing Dimetrodon Time

Watching classic adventure TV with my kid

Vintage Stardust

Classic Cinema's Art Direction, Culture & Inspiration for Vintage Lifestyle

John McEnery Fan Blog

A tribute to the actor John McEnery

Harlow Heaven

Assorted reflections on the indelible Jean Harlow, by Sophia D.

Lizabeth Scott

film noir queen

Fortune Finds

Finding all the things you didnt know you needed

the Carbon Freeze

Eclectic Essays & Art

Northing & Easting

Making sure things are where they really are

Mike's Take On the Movies

Rediscovering Cinema's Past

homekeethome

Tips, tricks and product reviews for the parakeet parent

Riding the High Country

Reviews and ramblings

That's what I'd like to know

some things to wonder about

Audie Murphy Appreciation

a fan appreciation of Audie Murphy's life and films

Cinema Sojourns

Time Tripping Through the World of Film

cracked rear viewer

Fresh takes on retro pop culture

Once upon a screen...

...a classic film and TV blog

(Travalanche)

The observations of actor, author, comedian, critic, director, humorist, journalist, m.c., performance artist, playwright, producer, publicist, public speaker, songwriter, and variety booker Trav S.D.

Joseph Cotten & Teresa Wright Appreciation

Blog appreciating the films of Joseph Cotten and Teresa Wright including Shadow of a Doubt

50 Westerns From The 50s.

Riding the long, dusty trail through 50s Westerns.

Dan Duryea Appreciation

Appreciation of the actor Dan Duryea

Ian Bannen Tribute Page

A tribute to the Scottish actor

The Tinseltown Twins

Two Film Buffs Are Better Than One

Only a Bloody Blog

Blogging my way through the career of Michael Caine one film at a time

movingtheriver.com

Matt Phillips' website about '80s music, movies and more

What I'm reading

the books I've read

Tribute to Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Tribute to one of my favorite actors and a timeless and elegant man. Fan site online since 1998.

Stephen Boyd Blog

Belfast-born Hollywood and International Star from 1950-1970's Fan Tribute Page

The Mystery of Alan Ladd

Tribute to one of the most popular actors of the 1940's

So few critics, so many poets

"If you think it is so easy to be a critic, so difficult to be a poet or a painter or film experimenter, may I suggest you try both? You may discover why there are so few critics, so many poets." - Pauline Kael

Caves of Altamira

musings on culture